It's the students and teachers trapped in their classrooms with no escape who are the most frequent victims. A teacher with a gun could make the world of difference in giving them a fighting chance.
Only insane gun-nuts are for it... and gun-owners and the NRA who think so absolute fools and human scum who value a few bucks over human lives -- until it's their own.
The latest gun massacre in Florida showed that even a trained, experienced security officer was unable to stop a person firing a semi-automatic weapon. And people seriously think a teacher would be able to do so?
Now if the school system could find a SEAL or similarly trained teacher with no children, with no family to worry about leaving behind, someone who had a terminal illness and didn't fear dying in the line of duty - this person would still have to factor in the risk of shooting a student or another teacher.
The idea of arming a teacher serves the purpose of selling more guns for the already rich gun industry.
Who's going to pay for the teacher training and the guns? Local school districts, already strapped for cash?
And anyone who calls the school security guard a coward understands nothing about how people might react in a gun fight. They're only parroting the words of the coward-in-chief.
The latest gun massacre in Florida showed that even a trained, experienced security officer was unable to stop a person firing a semi-automatic weapon.
“Trained, experienced”?
That is now questionable. It is part of the illusion that politicians and politicized (county sheriffs are elected officials) police departments promote.
The question is for US society, within the unique cultural environment of that country.
Teachers in general already have the painful duty of sorting out future winners from losers, (although some rare teachers manage to win love from all), and enforcing the system can sadly make many of them feel like the police.
Schools in general produce a percentage of students who hate what they went through. They hate both the place and the people there.
Locate your schools in a society like the US that allows large quantities of guns and they will naturally become soft targets for those with a grudge. Leave young kids alone during formative years years with free TV and the internet, and add drugs to the mix. What results, and what do you change?
If you bow to the ever-more-selfish demands of the NRA, I guess the debate gets unreasonably pushed backed to the schools, (see CoconutH2O's idiocracy above) and whether to allow some teachers in your school to make the individual choice to carry a (concealed) weapon.
I voted 'no', but as a Canadian, it isn't an issue I care about all that much. Sadly, I used to enjoy traveling to the US, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, now.
A quick Google search shows that there are 4,200 public schools in the State of Florida. Say you arm 10 Teachers in each school, that would introduce 42,000 guns into a work place environment. I can't think of a scenario where this is a good idea, yes...each and every "mass" shooting is its own tragedy especially when they take place in a school or church; locations where everyone should be safe. Just wait until the first time a kid gets a hold of the gun and shoots 10 kids in one class room then what?
Say you arm 10 Teachers in each school, that would introduce 42,000 guns into a work place environment. I can't think of a scenario where this is a good idea
Yeah, but the NRA benefits financially. Who cares about the loss of lives?
No I think it is bad because teachers will get mad at misbehaving students and will shoot them.
I definitely worry about that. I also worry about teachers trying to break up fights in school and one of the kids going for the teacher's gun.
Another scenario is if a student tries to attack a teacher and goes for their gun. What option does the teacher have at that point other than to shoot the student? If they don't and are unable to subdue the student, if the student gets the teacher's weapon, then the student puts everyone else in danger.
Final scenario from me...going back to Daniel Naumoff's quote, if the teacher goes nuts and is the shooter, what happens when other "Armed" teachers come looking for the shooter. They see the teacher with the weapon, but the teacher is supposed to have a weapon, so they do not think of the teacher as a threat. This teacher than shoots the other teachers adding to the loss of life.
One final thought, this is probably the first time I have ever agreed with one of your quotes "Daniel Naumoff." I tried to give you a thumbs up on it, but the site doesn't seem to be working correctly.
no shootings at the UN, Congress and the White House and I am pretty sure the politicians are not armed. Secure buildings not arming people is the answer
This is a weird question to ask in Japan. There is almost no gun violence in Japan. It is a weird question to ask in any modern democracy, except the United States. This shows what a mess the U.S. is.
Arming teachers may exacerbate the problem not fix it . . . consider having airport style entry points where students' bags are screened and students are checked for weapons, by electronic wand, operated by police or similar security personal. Teachers are in school to only teach.
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Daniel Naumoff
No I think it is bad because teachers will get mad at misbehaving students and will shoot them.
maybeperhapsyes
No. for many reasons. Not least the above...haha.
Jordi Puentealto
Absolutely not. Teachers' are there to teach.
FizzBit
Yes. A select group. Maybe 10. Carry it on their side.
MightyMo
It's the students and teachers trapped in their classrooms with no escape who are the most frequent victims. A teacher with a gun could make the world of difference in giving them a fighting chance.
maybeperhapsyes
So if/when (hoping never) a teacher flips and shoots up a school.
What then?
The answer ain't more guns folks!
Matt Hartwell
Ridiculous when you have to arm teachers at school.
smithinjapan
Only insane gun-nuts are for it... and gun-owners and the NRA who think so absolute fools and human scum who value a few bucks over human lives -- until it's their own.
PTownsend
The latest gun massacre in Florida showed that even a trained, experienced security officer was unable to stop a person firing a semi-automatic weapon. And people seriously think a teacher would be able to do so?
Now if the school system could find a SEAL or similarly trained teacher with no children, with no family to worry about leaving behind, someone who had a terminal illness and didn't fear dying in the line of duty - this person would still have to factor in the risk of shooting a student or another teacher.
The idea of arming a teacher serves the purpose of selling more guns for the already rich gun industry.
Who's going to pay for the teacher training and the guns? Local school districts, already strapped for cash?
And anyone who calls the school security guard a coward understands nothing about how people might react in a gun fight. They're only parroting the words of the coward-in-chief.
Toasted Heretic
A bit crude, as Twitter can be, but you get the picture.
rlperez@hotmail.com.au
The US has been addicted, obsessed to guns, violence and war for the past 100 years; its part of their psyche.
Coconut H2O
The fact that this is even up for debate as a legitimate idea is utterly ridiculous. Idiocracy is no longer a fictional flick.
Anonymous
“Trained, experienced”?
That is now questionable. It is part of the illusion that politicians and politicized (county sheriffs are elected officials) police departments promote.
Anonymous
Nonsense. Come back when you can substantiate it. That means never.
Disillusioned
I’m still having difficulty understand the logic behind the answer to too many guns on society is to give more people guns. What is that about?
Giving teachers guns will only mean they are the first to be shot at.
nandakandamanda
The question is for US society, within the unique cultural environment of that country.
Teachers in general already have the painful duty of sorting out future winners from losers, (although some rare teachers manage to win love from all), and enforcing the system can sadly make many of them feel like the police.
Schools in general produce a percentage of students who hate what they went through. They hate both the place and the people there.
Locate your schools in a society like the US that allows large quantities of guns and they will naturally become soft targets for those with a grudge. Leave young kids alone during formative years years with free TV and the internet, and add drugs to the mix. What results, and what do you change?
If you bow to the ever-more-selfish demands of the NRA, I guess the debate gets unreasonably pushed backed to the schools, (see CoconutH2O's idiocracy above) and whether to allow some teachers in your school to make the individual choice to carry a (concealed) weapon.
RationalReader
If the teachers want to be. They do in Israel and both the last two school shootings were stopped by armed teachers.
TrevorPeace
I voted 'no', but as a Canadian, it isn't an issue I care about all that much. Sadly, I used to enjoy traveling to the US, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone, now.
Jonorth
So if a student decides to shoot up a school, they know where to go - convenient access to guns!
OkinawaLiving
A quick Google search shows that there are 4,200 public schools in the State of Florida. Say you arm 10 Teachers in each school, that would introduce 42,000 guns into a work place environment. I can't think of a scenario where this is a good idea, yes...each and every "mass" shooting is its own tragedy especially when they take place in a school or church; locations where everyone should be safe. Just wait until the first time a kid gets a hold of the gun and shoots 10 kids in one class room then what?
Pukey2
Yeah, but the NRA benefits financially. Who cares about the loss of lives?
Aly Rustom
Of course not. And while we are at it, lets not only ban automatic and semiautomatics, lets also ban handguns.
Hunting rifles are fine. If you are a hunter, perfectly cool. But no auto or semi autos or handguns.
lostrune2
Teachers are not as trained as law enforcers
Mike Dashler
I definitely worry about that. I also worry about teachers trying to break up fights in school and one of the kids going for the teacher's gun.
Another scenario is if a student tries to attack a teacher and goes for their gun. What option does the teacher have at that point other than to shoot the student? If they don't and are unable to subdue the student, if the student gets the teacher's weapon, then the student puts everyone else in danger.
Final scenario from me...going back to Daniel Naumoff's quote, if the teacher goes nuts and is the shooter, what happens when other "Armed" teachers come looking for the shooter. They see the teacher with the weapon, but the teacher is supposed to have a weapon, so they do not think of the teacher as a threat. This teacher than shoots the other teachers adding to the loss of life.
One final thought, this is probably the first time I have ever agreed with one of your quotes "Daniel Naumoff." I tried to give you a thumbs up on it, but the site doesn't seem to be working correctly.
BertieWooster
Kids are killed by guns in schools.
So you want to put MORE guns in schools?????
The problem is the violence on US media and the PSYCHIATRIC DRUGS these killers are taking.
Dango bong
no shootings at the UN, Congress and the White House and I am pretty sure the politicians are not armed. Secure buildings not arming people is the answer
Dango bong
and if you need funding for the new security to protect children, make the NRA pay for it. Smoke companies pay for lung cancer surgery right?
Kabukilover
This is a weird question to ask in Japan. There is almost no gun violence in Japan. It is a weird question to ask in any modern democracy, except the United States. This shows what a mess the U.S. is.
Jtsnose
Arming teachers may exacerbate the problem not fix it . . . consider having airport style entry points where students' bags are screened and students are checked for weapons, by electronic wand, operated by police or similar security personal. Teachers are in school to only teach.